Soccer News of Thursday, 4 September 2008

Source: GNA

Gold Fields motivates Black Stars with $150,000

Accra, Sept 4, GNA - Gold Fields Ghana Limited, headline sponsors of Ghana's Black Stars has doled out 150,000 dollars for the team's Group Five joint World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifiers against Libya on Friday, September 5.

The amount which is expected to cater for bonuses, airfares, allowances and other expenses for the Tripoli duel has been presented to the Ghana Football Association (GFA). Dr Tony Aubynn, Corporate Affairs Director of Gold Fields told "With the appointment of a new coach, the return of captain, Stephen Appiah and the zeal of the team to replicate the heroics of Germany 2006, I am confident the Black Stars will definitely scale the Libyan hurdle."

The Miners pumps 1.3 million dollars annually to the team in a contract that spans three years. The Stars received significant funding from the Tarkwa and Damang mining firm in 2005 to propelled Ghana to her maiden World Cup appearance in Germany 2006. Ghana heads Group 5 with superior goals and a win in Tripoli this weekend will ensure qualification to the next stage even before their last game against Lesotho in October.